Jharkhand Horror: Pregnant Woman Carried on Cot for 4km as Roads Fail
A pregnant woman in Jharkhand's Sahibganj district had to be carried on a cot for 4km after an ambulance couldn't reach her village due to poor roads.
In a harrowing reflection of the crumbling Jharkhand road infrastructure, a 19-year-old pregnant woman was forced to be carried on a wooden cot for four kilometers through muddy terrain just to reach medical help. The incident, which took place in the Sahibganj district, has once again ignited a fierce debate over the systemic neglect of tribal-dominated regions in the state.
A Desperate Struggle for Survival
The ordeal began in Poriya Bero village, located under the Motipahari Bara Panchayat of the Borio block. Sukurmuni Paharin, the wife of Budhna Paharia, went into labor, prompting her family to call for emergency medical assistance. However, the promise of a quick rescue vanished when the 108 ambulance service found it impossible to navigate the treacherous and muddy paths leading to the village.
With no motorized vehicle able to reach them and time running out, the family and local villagers were left with a desperate alternative. They placed Sukurmuni on a cot and manually carried her for approximately four kilometers through the wilderness to reach Poriya Santhali village.
The Long Road to the Hospital
The journey did not end at Poriya Santhali. After the grueling trek on the cot, the woman had to be transferred to an e-rickshaw, which finally transported her to the Borio Community Health Center for the necessary medical care.
Broken Promises and Forgotten Villages
This incident has cast a harsh light on the state of healthcare and basic infrastructure in the Santhal Pargana region. Despite Jharkhand being formed 26 years ago, residents of these remote areas claim they are still fighting for the most basic of rights: a paved road.
Village head Chandu Malta expressed deep frustration, revealing that the community has not been silent. According to Malta, repeated appeals and requests for road construction have been sent to both block and district officials, yet these pleas have fallen on deaf ears, leaving the villagers stranded.
Official Responses Amidst Crisis
While the state government maintains a public commitment to providing quality healthcare to those living in remote areas, the reality on the ground tells a different story. The logistical hurdles remain a life-threatening barrier for the marginalized population.
Addressing the situation, Sahibganj Civil Surgeon Dr. Ramdev Paswan acknowledged the difficulties. He noted that while there are broad challenges regarding the 108 ambulance services across the entire state, the district has attempted to mitigate these gaps by utilizing Mamata Vahan services and allocating untied funds to manage emergency transportation needs.
Despite these administrative efforts, the image of a woman in labor being carried on a cot serves as a grim reminder of the persistent struggle for essential health services in the heart of Jharkhand.